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Stary, Krueger are youth bowlers of year

For the third time in the last four years, Morgan Stary has been chosen as the Green Bay Press-Gazette girls Bowler of the Year — and for the fifth straight year, she has been a first-team choice.

Joining Stary with top honors is Andrew Krueger, who was named boys Bowler of the Year by a panel of youth coaches and statisticians that picks the teams for the Press-Gazette.

Stary made the first team for the first time in 2012 and received her first Bowler of the Year honor in 2013. In 2014 she was chosen to the first team and regained the top honor in 2015.

Stary is joined on the girls’ first team by Chloe Ward, MaKayla Baeten, Briana Schermitzler and Katherine Reynolds.

Krueger went from being an honorable mention for three straight years to the top spot on the boys team.

Joining Krueger on the first team were Ryan Georgia, Dylan Shafel, Sean Connelly and Nicolas Sanok.

Stary’s reign as the top girls bowler in the city ends this year. The Green Bay Southwest senior signed a letter of intent to attend Robert Morris University in Chicago and compete on the Eagles' women’s bowling team that is fresh off winning the NAIA invitational last month.

In looking back over her last year in the Green Bay Junior program she said: “I think it really went well. I made some changes and I practiced a lot more this year.”

Stary posted the highest average for a girl in the Green Bay Junior Classic traveling league with a 214, which was tied for second overall with Georgia behind Krueger.

She averaged 212 in the Ashwaubenon Thursday Majors after transferring from the Saturday Majors. The Ashwaubenon leagues used a tougher oiling pattern, which she hopes will help her chances in July’s National Junior Gold tournament in Indianapolis.

“I think my chances are better than last year,” she said of the tournament that brings together the top junior bowlers in the nation who qualify in area tournaments. “With school winding down I will practice more and be prepared by the time it comes around.”

Baeten made the team for the third time. She made it in 2013 and after missing in 2014 was back on the first team last year. For Schermitzler, it’s her second straight berth on the first team while Ward and Reynolds were honorable mention choices last year.

Krueger won the average title in the Green Bay Classic with a 216 and averaged 210 in his Willow Creek Lanes junior league.

Krueger will graduate from Green Bay Preble this year but said he will continue bowling in the junior leagues (eligible to age 20) while attended Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.

“I have the rest of my life to bowl in adult leagues,” he said.

On his rise from the honorable mention list to Bowler of the Year he said: “I practiced a lot and I had good coaches that helped me out a lot. This has been the best year I ever had and next year I hope to improve, but I am really happy with this year.”

Krueger, like Stary, is setting his sights on the Junior Gold national tournament. “I hope to improve from last year,” he said.

Press-Gazette youth bowling teams

BOYS

Andrew Krueger: Won the average title in the Green Bay Youth Classic League with a 216 and posted a 210 average in the Willow Creek Juniors/Seniors league. Registered two national honor series with a high of 733.

Ryan Georgia: Posted a 214 average in the Classic league and had an identical 214 in the Village Saturday Junior/Majors. Tied for most national honor series in the youth association with four, including a high of 729.

Dylan Shafel: Tied for most national series with Georgia. His highest series was a 713. Averaged 203 in the Classic and 211 in the Village Saturday Junior/Majors.

Sean Connelly: Recorded the highest series in the youth association with a 758, one of two national honor series. Averaged 202 in the Classic and 205 in the Willow Creek Junior/Seniors.

Nicolas Sanok: Averaged 204 in the Classic and 175 in the Ashwaubenon Saturday Majors. Had two national honor counts with a high of 719.

GIRLS

Morgan Stary: Had a high series of 711, one of three national honor count series and the only girl to bowl a 700 or higher. Also had 16 counts of 600 or higher and a high single of 298. Averaged 214 in the Classic, 212 in the Ashwaubenon Thursday Majors and 190 part time in the Ashwaubenon Saturday Majors.

Chloe Ward: Had six series of 600 or higher with a high of 663. Averaged 194 in the Classic, 194 in the Willow Creek Junior/Seniors and 177 in the Ashwaubenon Thursday Majors.

MaKayla Baeten: Had a high series with 682, one of six scores over 600. Averaged 194 in the Classic and 182 in the Ashwaubenon Saturday Majors.

Briana Schermitzler: Had a high series of 643, one of four 600-plus series. Posted a 194 average in the Classic League and a 162 in the Ashwaubenon Thursday Major.

Katherine Reynolds: Averaged 177 in the Classic and 180 in the Village Saturday Junior/Majors. Had two 600-plus series with a high of 618.

Honorable mention: Oliva Joos; Madisen Powless

Jim Zima is a freelance writer who covers bowling for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. Email him at jezima@yahoo.com.